Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-03-25


A despatch says the legislature adj
!ourned Friday night. Of course il did.
That was the last day the members
could draw pay. If it had adjourned
before it convened it would have been
better STILL Leteher Blade.
1t is just little odd that a legisla-
ture In one branch Of which the major,
ity were farmers should have proved
the most extrayagant the territory has
ever laown. Query: Did the farm
srs have their eyes open or were they
hoodwinked ?--Sioux Falls Press.
The territorial legislature Of Dakota,
at its late session, made substantially
no change in the railroad laws. This
non action is not because the people of
tho territory are entirely satisfied with
the existing laws OF with existing
methods Of the railroad corporations.
| 1t is rather due to the fear that if any
radical or general scheme of new rail-
road legislation were entered upon,
mistakes might be made which would
interfere with railroad construction
within the territory. The railroad in
terests Of Dakota have grown with
wonderful rapidity in recent years, and
more rapidly than ever during the last
year, and there is every prospect of ex-
tensiye and new construction during
the ensuing season Sioux City Jour
nal.
| When one reviews the work of the
legislative session just closed, the abb
surdly anomalous conditions OF terri
torial form OF government are painful
ly apparent On one hand we have a
body of men to make our laws and
squander our money with nothing to
restrict their actions in any direction,
and with majority of them intent on
getting something" for their own To-
calities, regardless of expense.
On the other hand, we have 8 gov
ernor appointed by the federal govern
ment answerable to no party or inte--
est in Dakota, and, in this particular
instance, a man disposed to control leg
islation almost absolutely, by advising
the legislature what measures he will
or will not approve before such meas
ures reach him.-Editoria Correspond
ence of Mitchell Republican.
The members of the Dakota legisla-
ture must feel proud of the session Just
closed. If they have done nothing else
they have added to the debt of the ter
ritory. The amount of the appropria-
tlons is nearly S1,4O0,ooo. The bonds
authorized by this legislative body ag-
regste $4,000, or within $4,000 of the
entire previous debt of the territory
When the taxpayers fully realize this,
it will surprise them Just little. No
member of either house seems to have
known what mischief was being done,
all seemed to either haye a scheme OF
their own to get through aud we're
willing to vote for any and everything
else if only their own little deal was
made, or else they were too stupid or
careless TO raise any objection to the
reckless manner in which the public
funds were squandered. 1t was the
old story" "You tickle me and I'll tick
le you.'- Worthwhile Advance.
Among the items Of expenditures by
the legislature is 81 ,4A5 for fire water
ETC." We suppose this should appear
thus: "Fire, water, etc. A comma
makes good deal OF difference some
times.
The legislature paid sl1,l56,5e
for clerks and other employees. This
does not include the amount furnished
by the United States, but is the terri
tory's part alone. 1t costs q good deal
of money to "make the mare CO."
The legislation OF the past winter is
have depended on the promises OF
economy which had previously been
made; but let them take heart. The
year will see Il rapid increase in popu-
lation, the incoming of new capital,
business reyiving; and all in all they
will scarcely feel the effects Of tht
prodigality witnessed at Bismarck.
However the territory as a whole |
may feel about the appropriations this
winter, there are half a dozen commu
mites that will scarcely regret the lib
erality manifested. Among these are
jamestown, with an appropriation Of
nearly 100000, Yankton with S20O,0O0
Bismarck with over 100000, Sioux |
Falls over 100000, Grand Forks $4,000
and other places receiving all the way
from $4,000 to S:5OOOO 1t is at least a |
consolation to know that somebody is
to be benefited and someone is to be |